The right attitude is the key to almost everything in life — and health is no exception. It might be better to say “attitudes” rather than just “attitude,” since there are numerous mental orientations that comprise good health. In Proverbs we’re told,
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Prov. 23:7)
And it’s true! What we think really does determine who and what we are. But how does this apply to health? What attitudes do we really need to adopt to enhance our health? Though there are undoubtedly more than I have thought of, here’s a beginning:
#1 COMMITMENT
Commitment is at the top of my list, simply because I observe this attitude consistently in my clients making the most dramatic progress. The people who get the best results in solving their health problems generally approach those problems with the greatest resolve. They are committed to dietary changes, the nutritional supplements, exercise, adequate sleep, or about whatever else I suggest. They have taken control, and they have taken responsibility.
Remember the story of Jesus and the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda? It says:
And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”
John 5:5-6
I think there’s more in this passage than meets the eye — don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the story. Note that the passage says (most literally translated in the New American Standard Bible) not that the man had been sick for thirty-eight years, but that he had been in his sickness for thirty-eight years. Furthermore, I think Jesus words that follow corroborate this interpretation.
It says Jesus knew he had been there that way for a long time (most Bible scholars believe the length of the man’s illness is symbolic of Israel’s wilderness wandering), yet asks him the most unusual question of whether or not he wanted to get well. I can’t think of another encounter quite like that in Scripture. We can only conclude that Jesus felt the man was committed not to health, but to remaining sick.
This is further proven by the paralytic’s response — an excuse. Why, he couldn’t be healed because he had no one to put him in the water at the moment the angel stirred the water. Come off of it! In thirty-eight years he couldn’t find someone to put him in the water? Lame! Lame! Lame! He was just not committed, preferring to wallow in self-pity instead. But Jesus had other plans, as hopefully He does for you too.
Someone committed to health (which means being committed to change) will follow any diet, stop eating any problem food or beverage, take any supplement, follow any exercise program . . . they will do whatever it takes. Jesus taught us, “Knock and it shall be opened,” “Seek and you shall find.”
#2 SELF-DISCIPLINE
In Galatians 5:22-23 we read that self-control or self-discipline is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit. In other words, this is an attribute that should be the result of being filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. In fact, it’s listed as the last fruit, the last position always having a special importance. The Spirit’s control in your life begins with love and ends with self-control . . . but few Christians really experience that.
I’ve found it humorous over my 25 plus years more or less in Christian ministry to periodically have had various Christians look down their nose at me because I didn’t share their particular ecstatic spiritual gift. But they often lacked the real fruit of the Spirit, self-discipline, as did their churches full of gluttonous people!
How do you develop this attitude of self-discipline in our indulgent, “if it feels good, do it” world? The first suggestion I would have is fasting. Regular, plain water, fasting has an awesome ability to break the connection we enjoy with fulfilling our desires and impulses versus fulfilling God’s desires. It truly builds self-discipline.
But fasting isn’t just a principle that works relative to food. You can fast from TV, or other distractions as well in order to sharpen your sensitivities and reinforce your own discipline.
#3 POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Though worldly success teachers make much of positive mental attitude, Christians would do well to learn their lessons. I can think of no better illustration of positive mental attitude than a half glass of water. One person looks at it and says its half full, while the other person looks at it and says its half empty. Guess which one has the positive mental attitude?
Now this isn’t just a matter of opinion. Think about it — the only reality inside the glass is the water. The empty space in the other half is just that — nothing! You aren’t just negative if you’re focused on the nothing half, but rather are deceived.
Every situation may be looked at by the Christian as having positive value . . . because of the promises of God. He said, “In everything give thanks” (I Thes. 5:18) — it wasn’t just Pollyanna’s idea. And you can do that as a Christian because God is in control, He is sovereign and therefore Romans 8:28 may be claimed:
He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those called according to His purpose.
#4 GOAL ORIENTATION
If you’re committed, disciplined and positive, you tend to want and have goals. Now I don’t just mean “health” goals. A goal-orientation in your life overall is health producing. A lack of goal-orientation is self-destructive. Let me illustrate:
Let’s say an ICBM missile is fired at an enemy target. That missile has a guidance mechanism in it that knows where it’s going — that is to say, it has a pre-programmed goal. If that guidance system fails, if the missile is off-course, it no longer has its goal. That’s very dangerous, so we have a self-destruct button that the controllers will push. People are about the same — only when we have no goals, we push our own self-destruct button. It’s seldom outright suicide, but the result is the same — premature death.
#5 PATIENCE
Patience, like self-discipline, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we really know who God is, if we know His omnipotency, omniscience, goodness, mercy and sovereignty, what else can we do but be patient with the working out of His plan? Life is characterized largely by a lot of trials, a lot of suffering. In James 1 we’re told:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (i.e. patience); and let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect (i.e. mature, whole), lacking in nothing.
#6 PEACE
What do you know — it’s another fruit of the Spirit. Peace tends to flow from these other attitudes as we understand God’s control. If you’re in control of your life, you won’t have much peace. But if God’s in control, peace is the natural, or should I say supernatural, result.
Many people with chronic health problems have no peace. The person at peace knows that the worst thing that can happen to them health-wise is dying — and in reality, death is the best thing that can happen to a Christian — it’s our graduation ceremony!
#7 FEARLESSNESS
The absence of fear likewise results from knowing the sovereign God and His control in your life. Few things rob you of life and health more than fear. Are you obsessed with constant worry about everyone and everything? Then you’re not walking in God’s Spirit. To the extent that you worry, to that same extent you are not trusting God. Paul wrote:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)
The only thing you need to fear is God . . . and then you don’t need to fear anyone or anything else.
#8 FORGIVENESS
Few things are more healing than simple forgiveness. I would suggest that anyone with a health problem make a list of the people you’ve held something against, that you harbor bitterness against, and forgive them. Forgive them because God commands, but also forgive them because it’s part of your spiritual and physical healing as well.
#9 TEACHABILITY
Do you ever wonder why Jesus picked the disciples. They were a pretty motley crew — a wide range of education, occupations, temperments, and the like. What was the common denominator? The only one I can find is teachability. The only ability that really counts in life is teachability — being willing to learn, from God, from yourself and from others.
To be healthy you’re going to have to learn a lot that’s contrary to your present thinking, to the way you were brought up, to the way your friends and family think. Health is about change, and you won’t change unless you’re teachable.
#10 HUMILITY
I saved this one for last. Humility ties all these healthy attitudes together. When we approach life understanding our pitiful condition without God’s grace, humility is the only reasonable response . . . and humility heals.
Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1066, Sisters, Oregon 97759, Phone (800) 255–4246 with branch clinics in Boise, Idaho, Post Falls, Idaho and Portland, Oregon. E-Mail: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment. Rather, this material is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems. Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.